GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Banana Ball World Tour is coming to Michigan as the Party Animals will play the league's first-ever game in the Great Lakes state.
The West Michigan Whitecaps announced Thursday night that the Party Animals will take over LMCU Ballpark to face off against the Firefighters in a three-night series starting June 12, 2025.
"It's really exciting that we can reach that Michigan area and bring the greatest party in sports there," said Party Animals Head Coach Mike Vavasis.
The Savannah Bananas are best known on TikTok by their nearly 9 million followers for their dances and skits during games.
As the sport of Banana Ball has gained popularity, more teams have joined in to play ball under the league's unique set of rules.
One of those teams is the Party Animals, a team created by the owner of the Savannah Bananas, to become their greatest Banana Ball rival.
The Party Animals have amassed their own following on TikTok, with more than 2 million followers cheering them on.
"I mean, it's just crazy to think that, you know, Party Animals, Bananas, have more followers than most MLB teams," said Vavasis. "It's one of those things where we're doing things to reach that social media audience, and we're doing trends and fun stuff and it's attention-grabbing, and that's how we gained all these fans.
Vavasis said while the team is always training for and playing real baseball, they also work hard to add in some extra fun with dances, celebrations for plays and crowd engagement.
"We like to have fun. We like to be edgy. We like to push the limits, but also make it very fun and a good environment for all ages," Vavasis said.
While you're at a game, Vavasis said the best way to take in all the fun is to keep your head on a swivel.
"If you look one way, you're going to miss something," he said. "It's so funny. I'm on the field for the games and I'll watch the broadcast back that night, and I'm like, 'When did this happen? I'm just like, 'No way this went on.' It's a lot of excitement going everywhere."
Vavasis said while they're playing, the team is joined by a dance crew called the "Party Starters" and even a rock band.
"It's kind of like a mixture of, everywhere you look, there's something crazy going on," he said.
While the outcome of each game is unpredictable, one thing is for sure: the Party Animals have a dance for it.
"We prepare, you know, our pitching dances," Vavasis said. "So that stuff, we all practice prior. And then we have it scripted into the game where, 'Okay, when there's two outs and you're on the mound, you're going to do this dance,' or, 'Hey, when we score that first run of the game, we're going to do our Party Rock celebration.'"
The Party Animals are ready to bring the energy when they come to Michigan.
"You're gonna get a lot of energy," Vavasis said. "That's one thing the team provides is we have energy from when fans get in the stadium to when our fans are leaving the stadium. We consider it on stage anytime we're in front of fans."
If you'd like to see the Party Animals at LMCU, there's a bit of a process to go through to purchase tickets.
Vavasis said more than 50,000 people have signed up to be included in Michigan's ticket lottery so far.
"The venue you guys have is beautiful there," Vavasis said. "It's somewhere we've been looking to get there and reach because of the demand."
Banana Ball shared with us answers to some frequently asked questions:
How can fans get tickets?
Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on Nov. 1, 2024. Joining the list doesn’t guarantee the opportunity to buy tickets. A random drawing will take place about two months before the event for the chance to purchase available tickets. If you’re drawn, you’ll have an opportunity to purchase tickets.
The Ticket Lottery List will close on Nov. 1, 2024. Once the lists closes, fans will join the Ticket Wait List. There is no guarantee to have the opportunity to purchase tickets if fans join the Ticket Wait List, but fans will be notified if tickets do become available.
Where can fans sign up for the Ticket Lottery List?
When do tickets go on sale to those selected in the Ticket Lottery List?
Tickets for the 2025 Banana Ball World Tour Road games go on sale about two months before the event.
All fans who join the Lottery List will be asked to verify their identity to ensure they are not bots. Identity Verification for eligibility will come at a later time closer to when events go on sale.
How much are the general admission tickets?
Our standard tickets always start at $35. VIB/VIP Meet and Greet tickets start at $100. No hidden fees, no tax, all fun.
Tickets for MLB Stadiums range from $40-$80 with VIB/VIP Meet and Greet tickets starting at $125.
We only sell tickets through our official lottery on FansFirstTickets.com. Any tickets for sale outside of this platform are likely fraudulent.
I thought tickets were $35. Why am I finding tickets online for more than that?
Our standard tickets start at $35 when you purchase them from our site. If you find some that are WAY MORE than $35, those tickets had been bought from us and are now being sold on a third-party platform that we cannot control. These third parties include StubHub, VividSeats Ticketmaster, etc.
Warning: Tickets purchased through 3rd party sites are often fraudulent and will not be accepted.
An overwhelming majority of people selling tickets on social media platforms are fraudulent. Please use extreme caution if you choose to go this route.
Do you have group ticket options?
Join the Ticket Lottery List before it closes on November 1, 2024.
If we have the opportunity to accommodate your group, you’ll be contacted directly by a member of the Banana Ball Ticket Team.
Do I need to buy my child a ticket?
Little Banana Ballers three and under get in for free but will be expected to sit on a lap.
